Rowing and steering device for boats



NE. 2, 1954 c; E. 'MlMs ROWING AND STEERING DEVICE FOR BOATS ENTOR.

Cart/ 5 M0778 I BY I United States Patent ROWING AND STEERING DEVICE FOR BOATS Carl E. Mims, Sylacauga, Ala.

Application May 15, 1953, Serial No. 355,259

1 Claim. (Cl. 115-29) The invention relates to a rowing and steering device for boats, in the nature of'a scull or paddle mountable upon the front, side, or rear of a boat and adapted for one hand operation. 3

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved device of the type stated which will be novelly designed in such a manner as to give the boat more maneuverability and speed.

Another object is to provide a device as described which will move a boat in any direction, as desired.

Another object of importance is to provide a device as stated which will be so designed as to permit the elevation of a handle within the boat to effect elevation of the propulsion blade or blades out of the water, thereby to clear underwater obstructions, or reduce the draft of the boat, whenever necessary.

Another object of importance is to provide a device as stated which will be particularly designed to facilitate disassembly thereof, for convenience in storing and carrying the same.

Another object of importance is to provide a construction, in a rowing and steering device, whereby the handle can be disposed in any position desired, according to the needs or wants of the particular user.

A further object of importance is to provide a device as stated which is adapted for one hand operation, and which, further, can be operated with a minimum amount of difficulty.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a boat equipped with a rotating and steering device formed in accordance with the present invention, the dotted lines indicating different positions to which the device is shiftable;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the rotating and steering device, the boat being illustrated fragmentarily and in section;

Figure 3 is a sectional view, the scale being enlarged still further, taken on line 33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified form.

The reference letter B has been applied in the drawing to designate a conventional boat, such as a row boat. The invention has been designated generally by the reference numeral 10, and is so designed as to permit the same to be manufactured from generally conventional, indivi dual elements. Thus, a clamp 12 is utilized, said clamp being of the C-type, and being adapted for connection to one side of the boat B; Preferably, the clamp is secured to the boat adjacent the front end thereof, thereby to increase the maneuverability of the boat when the device is in use.

Fixedly connected to the clamp 12, and disposed exteriorly of the boat B, is a vertically positioned bearing sleeve 14, said sleeve being formed open at its opposite ends for extension therethrough of an elongated, vertical stem 16. The stem 16 is detachably but fixedly connectible, at its upper end, to an L 18, and secured to said L is a horizontally disposed handle 20 that projects inwardly within the boat B. A grip 22 can be provided upon the free end of the handle, if desired.

It will be understood that the L 18 can be secured to the upper end of the stern in selected position of relative rotatable adjustment thereof, thereby to dispose the vice.

2,693,163 Patented Nov. 2, 1954 handle at any desired position, prior to use of the de- A lock nut can be associated with the L and stem, to insure that these parts will not rotate relative to one another after they have been fixedly connected in a selected position of relative adjustment.

Secured to the lower end of the stem 16 is a T 24, said T being adapted to permit the inner ends of coaxial blade support arm members 26 to be fixedly secured to the stem for rotation therewith. The members 26 together can be considered as defining a blade support arm, and by reason of the construction shown in Figure 2, it is proper to state that the arm is fixedly connected intermediate its opposite ends to the lower end of the stem 16.

To the opposite ends of the blade support arm, blade assemblies are connected, said blade assemblies being pivotally mounted upon the blade support arm. The end portions of the blade support arm, it should be noted, are

extended obliquely as at 28 (Figure 1) relative to the longitudinal center line of the arm. This arrangement, it has been found, facilitates the use of the. device as a propulsion mechanism for boats.

Each blade assembly includes a rectangular blade depending from and pivotally connected at its upper end to the obliquely disposed free end portion 28 of each member 26. Each blade 30 is formed, at its upper end, with a sleeve 32 receiving the portion 28, said sleeve 32 being cut away medially between its opposite ends as at 34 to provide clearance for a rod 36.

Rod 36, at one end, is threaded and extended through a transverse opening 38 formed in the end portion 28. The opening 38 is smooth walled, the rod being held in selected positions of adjustment transversely of end portion 23 by means of lock nuts 40. The lock nuts 40 are threadable upon the rod 36 against the diametrically opposite portions of the blade support arm.

The rod 36, as shown in Figure 3, extends radially from the arm on which the blade assembly is mounted, and is inclined to a slight extent from the vertical. It will be observed that the arm extends within the cut away portion of the sleeve 32, the inclination of the rod being such as to limit swinging movement of blade 30 in one direction beyond a position in which the blade is vertically disposed. The blade 30 is shown in this position in Figure 3, it being seen that the inner edge of the recess or cut away portion 34 engages the rod 36, when the blade 30 is yertically located. a

At its lower end, the rod 36 has a head, and hooked about the shank of the rod, adjacent said head, is one end of a spring 42, the other end of which is anchored as at 44 to the free end portion of blade 30.

The spring 42 is so tensioned as to normally urge the blade to the vertical position shown in Figure 3. However, the spring 42 will yield when the blade 30 is swung in a direction away from rod 36.

In Figure 4, there is illustrated a modified form wherein, instead of a T 24, an L 46 is used at the lower end of stem 16. The modified form shown in Figure 4 has only one blade assembly, rather than two. The form shown in Figures 13, it should be noted, is particularly adapted to cause a propulsion of the boat to occur on every movement of the stem 16. Thus, propulsion of the boat occurs in a selected direction when the stem 16 is rotated in one direction, and also when the stem is rotated in a reverse direction for return of the parts to their original position prior to the next stroke.

The blade assemblies are so arranged, in this regard, as to cause one blade 30 to be held in a vertical position when the stem 16 is rotated in one direction, with the other blade 30 being extended substantially horizontally, in a feathered condition, at the same time. When the direction of rotation of stem 16 is reversed at the end of the stroke, the first blade moves into a feathered position, with the other blade moving into a vertical position. In this way, propulsion of the boat in a selected direction occurs on every rotatable movement of the stem 16, regardless of the direction in which said stem is rotated.

This is not, of course, true with respect to the form of the invention shown in Figure 4, a propelling force being obtained only when the stem 16 is rotated in one direction and operation is the same.

The. device villustrated and described herein is particularly adapted for use by fishermen, as for example, in fly fishing operations conducted in a relatively tranquil body of water. Under these circumstances,it may be desired to movethe boat with a minimum of disturbance of the Water, and with minimum difii'cul'ty'. Further, it may be desired to fish with one hand while propelling the boat in a selected direction with the other hand. The con: struction illustrated and described is particularly adapted to facilitate this, as will be apparent.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use. or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted Within the scope of the appended claim.

What is Claimed is: p

A rowing and steering device for boats comprising: a substantially vertical stern; 'stem support means including a sleeve in which the stem is journaled and a clamp connected to the sleeve and attachable to a boat; a laterally extended handle on the upper end of the stem for rotatmg the same; a blade support arm fixedly connected intermediate its opposite ends to the lower end of the stem and extending horizontally from the stem in opposite di- 4 rections, so as to causethe opposite ends of said arm to swing through horizontal paths in opposite directions on rotation of the stem; and blade assemblies carried by said ends of the blade support arm, each of said blade assemblies including a blade depending from and pivotally connected at its upper end to the blade support arm, a rod rigid with the blade support arm and extending radially thereof, said rod being inclined from the vertical and limiting movement of the associated blade in one direction beyond a vertical-position, and a spring connected at its opposite ends to said rod and to the other end of the blade, said spring being tensioned to normally urge the blade toward said vertical position.

References time in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

